Around 43 per cent of the inshore reef is being overrun by seaweed,

A claim hotly disputed by local tourism operators.

Professor David Bellwood, who is also an ARC expert, says a shift from

A coral-dominated reef to one overrun by weed shows the health of the

ecosystem is in decline. ≪What we can say is at the moment there is a lot

More weed than we expected and that this weed does constitute a potential

threat,≫ he said. ≪It certainly rings a few warning bells, the biggest

Implication is whether this weed starts to expand. So we need to know

Its history and that’s what we’re currently trying to find out. Does this

constitute a change? Because if it is a change, then it is very worrying.≫

Professor Bellwood says it is critical to protect browsing and grazing

Fishes and he has written to the Federal Government urging it to

develop a national policy. ≪We’ve got to protect our herbivorous fishes

— that’s the only thing that is clear at this point in time that we can

do that is a step towards protecting the reef,≫ he said. ≪And the other

Thing is, even though the weed is out there, it doesn’t mean to say the

Reef is rotting, what it means is things are different, it’s still a beautiful

place and if people get a chance they should go out and look at it.≫

But the Research Council’s report has raised the ire of tourism operators

Who rely on the reef for their livelihoods. Col McKenzie, head of

The Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators in far-north Queensland,

Says the findings are inaccurate.

(From ABC News)

Where is the Great Barrier Reef located?

A New Zealand.

B Ghana.

C Australia.

D Madagascar.

What are some of the main threats to the Great Barrier Reef?

A Shark attacks and global

Warming.

B Chemical runoff and

Climate change.

C Coral bleaching and sea

Snakes.

D Trash and fish

Over-breeding.

3. In the second paragraph, what is the meaning of the phrase ≪rings

a few warning bells≫?

A Causes concern.

B The problem is nothing to

Worry about.

C It is a humorous situation.

D Indicates a fire.

According to Professor Bellwood, what is critical to protect in the reef?

A Spreading seaweed.

B The breeding grounds of

Sea turtles.

C Scuba divers.

D Browsing and grazing

Fishes.

Www.e-ranok.com.ua

Variant 23

5. Which word can be used in the place of ire?

A Sympathy.

B Anger.

C Alarm.

D Happiness.

Who has the Research Council’s report affected the most?

A Tour operators.

B Chemists.

C Tourists.

D Other scientists.

2 Complete the text with the words from the box.

With industry beaches nature rid

Until exchange lessons money takes

A Fragile Sanctuary

Nobody visited the Seychelles much (1) 1971 when Male

Airport was opened and the world could flood in. Now more than half the

Country’s foreign (2) earnings come from tourism. This is an

(3) which could, if not managed properly, destroy the

Environment.

Coming fairly late into the tourism business means that the painful

(4) of the older world have been well studied in the Seychelles.

The beauty and unspoilt (5) of the islands are carefully protected.

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